diorite

[ dahy-uh-rahyt ]
/ ˈdaɪ əˌraɪt /

noun

a granular igneous rock consisting essentially of plagioclase feldspar and hornblende.

Origin of diorite

1820–30; < French < Greek dior(ízein) to distinguish (see di-3, horizon) + French -ite -ite1

OTHER WORDS FROM diorite

di·o·rit·ic [dahy-uh-rit-ik] /ˌdaɪ əˈrɪt ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby diorite

dioptric, dioptric aberration, dioptrics, dior, diorama, diorite, dioscin, dioscuri, diose, diosgenin, diosmose

Example sentences from the Web for diorite

British Dictionary definitions for diorite

diorite
/ (ˈdaɪəˌraɪt) /

noun

a dark coarse-grained igneous plutonic rock consisting of plagioclase feldspar and ferromagnesian minerals such as hornblende

Derived forms of diorite

dioritic (ˌdaɪəˈrɪtɪk), adjective

Word Origin for diorite

C19: from French, from Greek diorizein to distinguish (from dia- apart + horizein to define) + -ite 1

Scientific definitions for diorite

diorite
[ dī′ə-rīt′ ]

A gray, coarse-grained plutonic rock. Diorite consists mainly of sodium-rich plagioclase and one or more mafic minerals such as biotite, hornblende, or pyroxene. It is the coarse-grained equivalent of andesite.